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Re: Veils / Black Mesh

Don't worry, you will get used to having the veil over your head. Eventually, it will be the least of your concerns as the weather gets warm and your start having to lift full supers of honey with sweat running into your eyes and your glasses sliding down your nose and you inadvertently trap a bee between your finger and the handle of the box (ouch!). Then you will smile and say "I love beekeeping!"

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

When my father-in-law went out and "purchased a veil" he got me one too, and I experienced the same thing. As it turns out he got a mosquito veil which has very small netting. An actual bee veil has a much larger mesh pattern and was MUCH easier to see through.

Make sure you have the right veil for the job, it makes all the difference in the world.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

@Radar Sidetrack -

My initial thoughts were about a "veil" that had a clear visor make of plastic. I think I'm going to play around with this a little bit (start mocking up some prototypes) because I feel like there has to be away to create proper ventilation to prevent condensation / fogging, but I could be wrong here. If a veil with a lens existed and it did not fog, would that be of interest to you (or any other beek's?).

@Tom B-

I've been using the veil the past two months and have gotten use to it in regards to visibility. My major thought / concern was when trying to look for mites or eggs. The fine details are rather hard to see. And trust me I'm definitely enjoying beekeeping so far; I'm learning 1-3 new things each time I interact and observe the bees.

Do you get sun burned at all with your veil on? UV protection might be something for the veils?

@ Aucoop94-

Thanks for the insights into your experience with mosquito nets vs veils. How was the ventilation with the mosquito net?

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

Thanks for the insights into your experience with mosquito nets vs veils. How was the ventilation with the mosquito net?

Honestly, I didn't know any better at first until I bought my suit, that's when it became obvious. The mosquito net makes everything darker and the ventilation is not as good. The main thing for me though was the visibility because it made it harder to find the queen or eggs.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

Originally Posted by Jared.Downs

@Radar Sidetrack -

My initial thoughts were about a "veil" that had a clear visor make of plastic. I think I'm going to play around with this a little bit (start mocking up some prototypes) because I feel like there has to be away to create proper ventilation to prevent condensation / fogging, but I could be wrong here. If a veil with a lens existed and it did not fog, would that be of interest to you (or any other beek's?).

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

Originally Posted by sqkcrk

What is it about Beekeeping that attracts people who feel they need to fix something which has been standard operating equipment for hundreds of years? Especiall those who have only been into beekeeping for such a short time? Do people really think others haven't thought of this before and found it lacking?

Is it beekeeping? Or does this happen in other professions too?

Welcome to beesource.

@sqkcrk

I see you edited your original response this morning after sleeping on it over night. I guess you decided it was a little harsh. Not sure the edited version is much better.

Sqkcrk, I've read a lot of your posts and I've found your suggestions quite helpful but, sheesh! He's just excited about beekeeping and he's been a member of the forum for a month; not sure that's the welcome I'd want.

I too am a new beek and as equally excited, but I guess us newbies need to be careful what we ask or post on the forum for fear that we may get reprimanded by some "old timers" that think nothing new can be invented or old can be modified.

As for me, if Jared.Downs invents an air-conditioned bee suit I might be the first to purchase...It's fricken' hot during the summers here in Alabama.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

I, too, have trouble seeing through the standard bee veil. It is only a problem when looking for eggs, but then it is a big annoyance during a critical operation. For everything but egg searching, the standard mesh is fine.

I have wondered about a veil with a mesh with larger, but still-bee-proof holes. It seems the standard mesh is much finer than it needs to be. Bigger holes would mean better fine detail resolution and better ventilation.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

I see you edited your original response this morning after sleeping on it over night. I guess you decided it was a little harsh. Not sure the edited version is much better.

Sqkcrk, I've read a lot of your posts and I've found your suggestions quite helpful but, sheesh! He's just excited about beekeeping and he's been a member of the forum for a month; not sure that's the welcome I'd want.

Quite right on all counts.

Jared, the fellow who perfected the ultrabreeze suit may have some insights which would be of benefit to you and your efforts.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

Originally Posted by shinbone

I, too, have trouble seeing through the standard bee veil. It is only a problem when looking for eggs, but then it is a big annoyance during a critical operation. For everything but egg searching, the standard mesh is fine.

I have wondered about a veil with a mesh with larger, but still-bee-proof holes. It seems the standard mesh is much finer than it needs to be. Bigger holes would mean better fine detail resolution and better ventilation.

Stop looking for eggs. First day Larvae are much easier to see. So are cells w/ brood food in them next to empty cells. It tells you almost the same thing. A queen is present and laying.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

sqkcrk - Okay. Thanks.

BTW, does anyone know why the apparently finer-than-necessary mesh was settled upon as the standard for bee veils? A coarser mesh would still keep out bees, but allow for better visibility and better air flow on a hot day.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

Originally Posted by sqkcrk

What is it about Beekeeping that attracts people who feel they need to fix something which has been standard operating equipment for hundreds of years? Especiall those who have only been into beekeeping for such a short time? Do people really think others haven't thought of this before and found it lacking?

Is it beekeeping? Or does this happen in other professions too?

Welcome to beesource.

You're one of my favorite posters Mark, but I have to wonder why you would even care about anybody else's equipment?

I hope some egg head comes up with a better vale, I have terrible vision and would love to be able to find queens and see small larva.

Re: Veils / Black Mesh

Originally Posted by shinbone

sqkcrk - Okay. Thanks.

BTW, does anyone know why the apparently finer-than-necessary mesh was settled upon as the standard for bee veils? A coarser mesh would still keep out bees, but allow for better visibility and better air flow on a hot day.

Wouldn't wider mesh be more flimsy? Less structural integrity? More susceptible to damage? I wondered the same thing myself.

@ mppatriots- The only time I really have a problem with it is the first few minutes and then as others have said you get use to it.

Part of what sparked this thread was that my dad has bifocals or trifocals maybe? But either way, his eyesight isn’t even poor. It’s terrible. And I’m guessing he’s not the only person that has poor eyesight that puts on a veil when beekeeping.

Combine the glasses and a veil and he must have a real hard time. (I don’t know how others with glasses fare or what they experience, because I don’t wear glasses but I would think that they have a difficult time).

@sqkcrk- I noticed you’ve edited your post multiple times. I didn’t get a chance to see the first version (I’d love to see it, because there is value in understanding where you’re coming from and your frustration).

So maybe one thing I failed to do in the OP was give everyone a little background info on myself. See the following:

1)Yes, I’m really new to bee keeping. (Started my two hives on May 15th)

2)I’ve made lots of mistakes but have been reading as many books and talking to as many experienced bee keepers as I can.

3)My professional background is in product design; I’m an industrial designer that has a wide range of interests.

4)I’m 24 years old, and have worked for a number of companies designing everything from gloves for outdoor companies, toys at Hasbro for Star Wars, firefighting equipment, jewelry, medical equipment, surgical tools, etc. I could go on and on. But one thing I’m not is an expert in any of those product categories. So anytime I know nothing about a product category, I do everything I can to learn about it and the nuances that are involved with it. This way the person that uses the product I worked on is able to have a positive experience.

5)I got into bee keeping because I wanted to keep bees. Then as I was looking around for equipment. I noticed everything is either made at home (I’ve made all my hives and will continue too), or does not look as those it’s changed much over the years (of course there are newer products but my statement is towards the bulk of existing products). So if I can make a small contribution and a few people out there can benefit from some of my work; all the better.

6)And sometimes, having no prior experience with something like bee keeping can lead to some great discoveries, because I don’t have 20 plus years of training that has lead me to think a certain way. Being new to it, I have an incredibly open mind (not that others don’t) but I’m learning and have questions about everything. And sometimes I look at stuff and ask why the heck a product is the way it is, i.e. the veil.

7)You might hate me, because I’ve got a list of products I could design for bee keeping. They’re in my idea book. But I’ll save those for another day once I can show everyone that I’m not a crazy person trying to change bee keeping, just improve certain select aspects of it with functional improvements.

Wider mesh can be stronger, it all depends on the weave and if the mesh is coated. But if the openings in the mesh get a little bigger, generally the mesh becomes thicker to compensate for the strength because stronger weaves, materials or coatings are more money.

But if you can list the things you like and dislike, then I can work with you to make something that everyone here would appreciate and find useful.

I’m not looking to get rich, just looking to find a way to do something that might be useful.